Bullfighting is ancestral and the island maintains several active cattle ranches. The activity is divided into square bullfights and the typical rope bullfights, in which the bull runs through the streets of the town held by a long rope held by a group of men, known as the shepherds. The bull season runs from the 1st of May to the 15th of October.
Rope bullfighting in Terceira Azores
July 2026
Day 01 – Urbanização Sta. Rita, Praia da Vitória, at 6:30 PM.
Day 02 – Urbanização Sta. Rita, Praia da Vitória, at 6:30 PM.
Day 03 – Casa da Saúde, Angra do Heroísmo, at 2:00 PM .
Day 03 – Largo da Fontinha, Praia da Vitória, at 6:30 PM.
Day 04 – Largo da Fontinha, Praia da Vitória, at 6:30 PM.
Day 04 – Largo de Santo António, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 PM.
Day 04 – Terreiro do Paço, Ribeirinha, Angra do Heroísmo, at 9:00 PM (Night).
Day 05 – Largo da Fontinha, Praia da Vitória, at 6:30 PM.
Day 07 – Casa da Ribeira, Praia da Vitória, at 4:00 PM (Bull Run).
Day 08 – Casa da Ribeira, Praia da Vitória, at 6:30 PM.
Day 08 – Largo de São Bento, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 PM.
Day 08 – Serra da Ribeirinha, Angra do Heroísmo, at 5:00 PM .
Day 09 – Casa da Ribeira, Praia da Vitória, at 6:30 PM.
Day 09 – Canada Nova, Posto Santo, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 PM .
Day 10 – Casa da Ribeira, Praia da Vitória, at 6:30 PM.
Day 10 – Caminho da Vila, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 PM.
Day 10 – Corpo Santo, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 PM
Day 11 – Corpo Santo, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 PM.
Day 11 – Terreiro do Paço, Ribeirinha, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 PM.
Day 11 – Casa da Ribeira, Praia da Vitória, at 6:30 PM.
Day 11 – Cales, Altares, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 PM
Day 12 – Caminho da Vila, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 PM.
Day 12 – Ribeira Manuel Vieira, Sta. Bárbara, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 PM.
Day 12 – Cales, Altares, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 PM.
Day 12 – Cova da Serreta, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 PM.
Day 13 – Grota do Medo, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 PM.
Day 13 – Caminho do Concelho, Praia da Vitória, at 6:30 PM.
Day 14 – Praça da Alegria, Praia da Vitória, at 6:30 PM
Day 15 – Bairro de São Pedro, Praia da Vitória, at 6:30 PM.
Day 15 – Rua da Igreja, Ribeirinha, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:00 PM
Day 16 – Rua Longa, Praia da Vitória, at 6:30 PM.
Day 17 – Caminho da Salga, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 PM.
Day 18 – Casa da Ribeira, Praia da Vitória, at 6:30 PM.
Day 18 – Rua da Igreja, Ribeirinha, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 PM.
Day 19 – Rua da Igreja, Ribeirinha, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 PM.
Day 20 – Poço d’Alem, Angra do Heroísmo, at 3:00 PM.
Day 21 – Canada do Serra, Praia da Vitória, at 6:30 PM.
Day 22 – Porto de Pescas, Porto Judeu, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 PM.
Day 23 – Porto Judeu de Cima, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 PM.
Day 24 – Terreiro, Porto Judeu, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 PM.
Day 25 – Terreiro, Porto Judeu, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 PM.
Day 25 – Atalho, Ribeirinha, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 PM.
Day 25 – Regatos, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 PM
Day 26 – Largo de Santo António, Porto Judeu, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 PM
Day 27 – Rua da Fonte, São Sebastião, Angra do Heroísmo, at 2:00 PM
Day 27 – Bairro da Terra Chã, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 PM.
Day 28 – Regatos, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 PM.
Day 28 – Largo da Igreja, Fontinhas, Praia da Vitória, at 6:30 PM.
Day 29 – Largo da Igreja, Fontinhas, Praia da Vitória, at 6:30 PM.
Day 29 – Doze Ribeiras, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 PM.
Day 30 – Santo António, Praia da Vitória, at 6:30 PM.
Day 30 – Largo da Fonte, São Sebastião, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 PM.
Day 31 – Largo da Fonte, São Sebastião, Angra do Heroísmo, at 6:30 PM.
Day 31 – Areeiro, Praia da Vitória, at 6:30 PM.
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Rope bullfighting is considered the greatest manifestation of popular character in the Azores, being a show specific to this region, mainly from the Central Group, with particular expression on Terceira Island. Its central element is Toiro Bravo, which is idolized by our people and by all who visit us.
Rope bullfights are held on the islands of São Jorge, Graciosa, Pico and Terceira, the latter being the island with the highest number of shows per year, with more than 200 festivities.
Such is the importance of wild cattle in the popular imagination of Terceira that the victory at the Battle of Salga, on July 25, 1581, is attributed to the bulls, when they expelled the invading Castilian troops. Portuguese to resist Filipino rule. For this reason, they are also represented (bulls) in the coat of arms of the Autonomous Region of the Azores.
The first reference to rope bullfighting appears only in 1622, on the occasion of the celebrations, in Angra, for the canonization of São Francisco Xavier and Santo Inácio de Loyola. In these celebrations, rope bulls were “run” through the streets of the city. However, it is believed that these popular manifestations already existed much earlier.
Despite the origin of rope bullfighting being lost in the memory of the times, this spectacle of popular nature is currently duly legislated with a set of rules that guarantee its proper functioning, the health and well-being of the animal, as well as the safety of the population.
